Hey Fellas !Wzup yo i need help on choosing my career . Well i like to draw like you guys and I like to Design things, i've notice that i like to bring material together to create a masterpiece! I think that falls into advertising?......I also enjoy Media like movies i love special effects. Well i have to go to college next year and i have no idea what classes to take nor what kind of college to go to im confuse. I guess only i can deside what to really be since i would have to do that for the rest of my life, but i would love the help!

Ps. Dhab tell me what you think advice me brother......as well as the rest of you.!!
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!! BOOO!!!!

DRAW, DRAW, DRAW, DRAW and DRAW a little more. In college take as many life drawing classes as possible, take a computer classes to learn the basics, and Painting class. Many of the studios, the mayor ones anyway, hire people on the strength of their portfolio and train them to use the software. laters hopes it helps. Nothing like a job in the art business.

I agree with Doc. I would also add this:
You can spend a lifetime going to school to learn techniques and to get that piece of paper. But a strong portfolio (experience) will determine your employment. Not every place out there is looking for someone with just a degree, they want to see your work. I don't mean make a scrapbook of every sketch, or painting.. just make some really good quality pieces. And good luck your freshman year. You'll want to change major's like theres no tomorrow. Art classes are lose like that though. As long as your focus is on something, stick with it and don't stray too far from that goal.

Don't feel that because you start freshman year with one particular field in mind that you are stuck in that. There is room to move around and since all those interests you mentioned all deal with similar curiculum I think you have room to bend. When it comes down to finding a job, i think one of the most important things is your portfolio. Thats what companies look for when hiring artists. A school degree is also important in many cases.

I kinda messed around in school and wasn't too focused at first but after the first year i began to see the direction i wanted to head in and followed that path. So dont stress about not knowing what you wanna do, its a natural thing and there will be time to figure it out.

I've got a question for you guys. Do you REALLY think that painting is that important of a foundation art? My interests and hobbies lie mostly in 3D modeling and 3D design ... but I happen to love drawing as well, but I *HATE* working with wet mediums. I'm a freshman in college right now as well, and I'm having trouble comming to understand why painting is even considered a foundation art. I'll argue that the ONLY foundation art is drawing. Color theory, I can understand ... but color and painting are not the same fields. I dunno, sorta interested to hear the opinions. I understand the importance of opening yourself up to as much as you can ... I'm just wondering if you guys really think that painting is that important. I actually find that with my interests, sculpture is playing a much bigger roll in my own developement as an artist than I had originally imagined.

I use to think alot like you grift, but from my esperience painting is very imporatant. Its the best way to learn about form, color, and light. I know its a bitch sometimes, but hey its worth it. I use to paint with oils alot but the smell and my lack of patience i switched watercolors and acrylics. Its all stucked together improvement in one area improves everyhting, im still trying figure this painting stuff out myself ;( BTW now that i know you are in SVA, i can help you a little more. Some teachers i recommend for painting - Gregory crane: he teaches second year painting its a realy good foundation paiting class
Steve Assel or Marc Ginsburg - The best painting teachers in that school, i suggest getting a basic understanding b4 taking these guys. For drawing - sam martine kicks ass also the high focus drawings classes are cool especially for animation. thats about it.

[This message has been edited by Doc Holliday (edited October 27, 1999).]

If you dont know exactly what you want to do then i would suggest taking as many courses which cover a broad area... leaving u lots of options at the end of it
(you can always narrow them down as you go)

of course this is just my suggestion.. and well.... u might want to slap me for talaking out of turn

Oh well... All I know, which is very little... But besides that, I know for a fact that an artists portfolio is the key to getting the big bucks. I know jack crap about college, lol, I am only 16, but I have interviewed various artists, in the 3D Genre as well as 2D and they have all said that the key to making it is a good portfolio. A degree or whatever may help, but.... It is not always necessary... Hell, I made an animated gif for 200$ =) My friends dad really liked what i could do so i said HECK YA! =) So...... as doc holiday said b4..... practice draw practice drawing practice practice DRAW DRAW DRAW!!!!!

Thanks Doc. I actually have two fairly new teachers for my foundation drawing and painting classes. So far I can't really complain about either ... aside from the facilities, which can be a little lacking somtimes, I really like this place.

Something else I'd strongly recommend as far as lighting and composition (with regards to 3D work) is photography. That and life drawing can really help you start to understand how lighting and shadows work...